ALTE, the Association of Language Testers in Europe, was established in 1989 by the University of Cambridge and the University of Salamanca.
The initial goal was to set up common standards for language testing throughout Europe, in an effort to support multilingualism and help to preserve the rich linguistic heritage of Europe. It was also vital that users received a fair and accurate assessment of their language ability, one that was recognized worldwide, and that could be correctly verified in other languages.
Currently, ALTE has 34 members, including some of the leading organizations in language assessment around the world, 40 institutional affiliates, and several hundred individual members.
The ALTE members represent 26 languages across Europe and include all major European languages, as well as less widely spoken languages such as Basque, Slovenian, Irish and Welsh. ALTE supports multilingualism through regular events such as conferences and seminars, and also through publications like the Multilingual Glossary of Language Testing Terms. ALTE also works closely with European institutions, such as the Council of Europe, and the European Commission. For more information, see: http://www.alte.org/
